Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports April Sales Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Costco (NASDAQ: COST) reported strong sales performance for April 2025, with net sales reaching $21.18 billion, a 7.0% increase from $19.80 billion in the previous year. For the first 35 weeks, net sales grew 8.2% to $180.05 billion. The company's total comparable sales rose 4.4% for the month, with e-commerce showing impressive growth of 12.6%.

Excluding impacts from gasoline prices and foreign exchange, total comparable sales increased by 6.7%, with U.S. leading at 7.1%, followed by Other International at 6.5% and Canada at 5.0%. The company noted that April had one less shopping day due to Easter, negatively impacting total and comparable sales by approximately 1.5-2%. Costco currently operates 905 warehouses globally, with e-commerce presence in eight countries.

Positive

• Net sales increased 7.0% to $21.18 billion for April 2025
• Strong e-commerce growth of 12.6% (13.0% excluding gas and forex)
• Robust 35-week performance with 8.2% sales growth to $180.05 billion
• Solid U.S. comparable sales growth of 7.1% excluding gas and forex

Negative

• One less shopping day due to Easter calendar shift impacted sales negatively by 1.5-2%
• Lower international growth with Canada showing only 1.5% comparable sales increase before adjustments
• Potential impact from various risk factors including inflation, exchange rates, and economic conditions

Insights

Retail Financial Analyst

Costco shows robust 7.0% sales growth despite Easter calendar headwind, with standout 13.0% e-commerce growth indicating strong momentum.

Costco delivered solid sales performance for April 2025, with $21.18 billion in net sales representing a 7.0% year-over-year increase. This growth is particularly impressive considering April had one less shopping day versus last year due to the Easter calendar shift, which the company estimates negatively impacted results by approximately 1.5-2.0%.

The year-to-date figures strengthen this positive narrative, with $180.05 billion in sales for the first 35 weeks, up 8.2% from last year. This consistency between monthly and year-to-date growth suggests sustainable momentum rather than a one-time spike.

Comparable sales (same-store sales) growth of 4.4% for April (6.7% when excluding gasoline and foreign exchange impacts) demonstrates healthy performance in established locations. The geographical breakdown reveals variations in growth rates: U.S. stores led with 5.2% comps (7.1% adjusted), while Canada posted 1.5% (5.0% adjusted) and Other International delivered 3.2% (6.5% adjusted).

E-commerce continues to be a standout growth driver, with April sales increasing 12.6% (13.0% adjusted). The double-digit e-commerce growth rate significantly outpacing physical retail indicates Costco's digital transition is progressing effectively in an increasingly omnichannel retail environment.

With 905 warehouses globally (624 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico), Costco continues to demonstrate it can maintain robust growth despite its significant scale. The fact that adjusted comps exceeded 6.5% across all geographical segments signals broad-based strength in Costco's retail model regardless of regional market dynamics.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $21.18 billion for the retail month of April, the four weeks ended May 4, 2025, an increase of 7.0 percent from $19.80 billion last year.

Net sales for the first 35 weeks were $180.05 billion, an increase of 8.2 percent from $166.44 billion last year.

Comparable sales for the periods ended May 4, 2025, were as follows:

		4 Weeks			35 Weeks
	U.S.	5.2%			6.8%
	Canada	1.5%			4.5%
	Other International	3.2%			3.0%
	Total Company	4.4%			5.9%
	E-commerce	12.6%			16.3%

Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows:

		4 Weeks			35 Weeks
	U.S.	7.1%			7.9%
	Canada	5.0%			8.4%
	Other International	6.5%			8.6%
	Total Company	6.7%			8.1%
	E-commerce	13.0%			17.1%

April had one less shopping day versus last year, due to the calendar shift of Easter. This negatively impacted total and comparable sales by approximately one and one-half to two percent.

Additional discussion of these results is available in a pre-recorded message. It can be accessed by visiting investor.costco.com (click on “Events & Presentations”). This message will be available through 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
        
Costco currently operates 905 warehouses, including 624 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 19 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.

Certain statements contained in this document and the pre-recorded message constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, inflation or deflation, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, capital spending, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (generally including health-care costs and wages), workforce interruptions, energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, regulatory and other impacts related to environmental and social matters, public-health related factors, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company’s public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Comparable sales and comparable sales excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange are intended as supplemental information and are not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

CONTACTS:	Costco Wholesale Corporation
	Josh Dahmen, 425/313-8254
	Andrew Yoon, 425/313-6305

COST-Sales

FAQ

What was Costco's (COST) total sales growth in April 2025?

Costco reported net sales of $21.18 billion for April 2025, representing a 7.0% increase from $19.80 billion in the previous year.

How did Costco's e-commerce perform in April 2025?

Costco's e-commerce sales grew by 12.6% (13.0% excluding gasoline prices and foreign exchange impacts) in April 2025.

What was Costco's comparable sales growth in the U.S. for April 2025?

Costco's U.S. comparable sales grew by 5.2%, or 7.1% when excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices.

How many warehouses does Costco operate globally as of April 2025?

Costco operates 905 warehouses globally, including 624 in the United States and Puerto Rico, and locations across 13 other countries.

What factors affected Costco's April 2025 sales performance?

April 2025 had one less shopping day versus the previous year due to Easter calendar shift, which negatively impacted total and comparable sales by approximately 1.5-2%.